January
The year in 1957 began with violence as two more miners died at Denaby Main after a roof fall and despite a desperate rescue attempt
A brother is arrested for a New Year’s Eve Murder; of his brother and a Loco Fireman is sent for trial after a fracas in Mexborough
We show adverts for Dances at Denaby Baths, the Civic Ball, and Conisbrough Cricket Club at the Empress
An Ivanhoe Cyclist has to shave off his beard for the Navy and a Double Decker Bus ends up in the parlour !
The Council are trying to improve the streets and there’s a new bus service for Ellershaw and Windhill
United concede 11 goals at Grantham then put 5 past Scarborough !
February
In February 1957 a new dance craze “Rock” was being compared to the Charleston and proving popular at Denaby Baths
The Castle Wall was being repaired and Low Road Widened
Conisbrough Cricket Club celebrate paying off the Loan for the New Ground with former Yorkshire & England skipper, Norman Yardley, their guest at the Lord Conyers
The explosive store attendant, and former footballer, retires after 50 years at Denaby Main and more jobs are being created as Detonater manufacture is brought to Denaby by Westfalite
Tommy Joyce brings a Yorkshire title back to Denaby and United are scoring goals galore at Tickhill square with marksman Cliff Martin scoring successive hattricks as they beat the opposition by 17 goals to 3
in 4 home games !
March
In March 1957 the Incident at a New Year’s party saw the Conisbrough man receive a 7 years sentence for the manslaughter of his brother
and a young girl gets a custodial sentence for her “Wild Life”
A Denaby enterprise is expanding through pre packed potatoes and the ICI factory gives awards for 20 year’s service
There’s a Conisbrough Racing dog with 200 wins and a Full House for Boxing at Denaby
A new Seam is opened at Cadeby and the Wesley Drama Group presents “The Gentle Rain”
United win a 9 goal ‘rip snorter against Hull Reserves and Joe Mercer attends the Annual Dinner
April
In April 1957 the inquest heard about a Denaby Coal Burst where another 2 miners lost their lives
The housing scheme is postponed and a petition against increased rents for the pre fabs is successful
There’s a delay in the Pit Scheme merger proposals
A policeman is commended for his prompt action and the Plough Inn is burgled for the third time in four years
A Conisbrough family fought a fire without help but it turned their budgie black
We have a pre season cricket report and United finish a successful season with 100 goals!
May
In May 1957 the Conisbrough Motor Company modernised so that cars at the busy junction no longer had to queue on the road
to fill up with petrol ! (imagine that today !)
There’s a 4 ton organ at the Hill Top – an orchestraphone and May Day and St George’s parades
‘Morbid Sightseers’ gather as graves are moved and skulls and bones are visible
The Council hopes Conisbrough will become another Harrogate or Scarborough
while there’s Strikes and Disputes at Denaby and Cadeby
Lightening strikes Houses in Lewes Road, while a man is reading about fiery Freddie Truman
National Service takes a man from Malta to Tripoli and a family look for a better life in Australia
We have the Final Midland League Table and Denaby & Cadeby are defeated after winning their first 3 matches
June
In June 1957 a motor cyclist knocked a man down on Clifton Hill and there was a serious Farm fire destroying 3 Hay stacks
It was a time of Crowning Queens and Church processions
Residents were complaining about Council Maintenance and the fires on the refuse tip
A Denaby Girl wins a Bronze medal for Nursing
and a Conisbrough viewer sees her Son in law on TV at the Fleet Review
Conisbrough Children tour Europe with complements from their teacher
and the pupils at Denaby St Albans follow the progress of the Aircraft Carrier Warrior as it assists in the Hydrogen Bomb tests in the Pacific !
and we include YouTube videos of the events
July
In July 1957 the Denaby Sports Day was very popular, with double the entries from the previous year
and the Ivanhoe Cyclists had a busy programme as far as Cornwall and Devon and Switzerland and France
A mishap at Cadeby leaves a Foreman in Hospital and a 15 year old girl dives fully clothed into the canal to rescue a woman from drowning – and she had only just learnt how to swim !
There are swimming galas with the Schools and scouts at Denaby baths
Tom Hill has German visitors and their Youth party is in an international football tournament
Because of a ‘bus strike there’s peace in Conisbrough as the noisy ‘Canyon Flyer’ is not running
but the miners have a long walk to work and underground as the ‘paddy mail’ wasn’t running
August
In August 1957 we had many stories and pictures
As residents return from cycling holidays in Europe and the Tom Hill Youth club have a successful visit to Germany
There’s a scout badge of flowers in the Memorial Park and butterfly catching at Conisbrough Castle
The Eltsec Chimney is demolished and a note found from the builders
A ‘keystone cop’ fire engine is retired and a Denaby Pit pony wins ‘Best Horse’ at the Dearne Show
There are Galas and Sports Days and Garden Parties and a mystery fountain is flowing on Low Road
But Conisbrough C.C. fall foul of the weather and their Johny Wardle Benefit match, with England Greats, Godfrey Evans and Colin Cowdrey is rained off – twice!
Denaby & Cadeby finish strongly and United’s prospects look good
September
In September 1957 Two Denaby Fighting Brothers were fined again
“It happens when we’ve had beer” said one
A Denaby boy turned up at the wrong school after the family moved to Mexborough
A new cricket pavilion is opened at Tickhill Square, just 300 yards from their old ‘Donkey pitch’ ground
Denaby & Cadeby finish a creditable 8th in the full Yorkshire Council
and United’s start features three 1-1 draws, and a 3-4 thriller against Forest Reserves at Tickhill Square
October
In October 1957 a Conisbrough young Cyclist rides to Mexborough for his proficiency test
The Council are frustrated after losing the Registrar and pay tribute to a Councillor who passed away
A Station Road teacher moves to the North Riding and a Miner emigrates to Rhodesia
A memorial Chapel is created using a 12th Century stone as a tribute to the War Dead in the Parish Church
Matt Taylor resigns as United’s secretary manager as FA Cup Winner Aubrey Scrivens pays a return visit
November
In November 1957 the ‘Self Builders’ were delighted to receive news of a loan of £20,250 to build 18 houses
The Memorial Chapel at the Parish Church is complete and is dedicated by the Bishop of Sheffield
A Conisbrough house is allergic to T.V. and twins celebrate their 21st Birthday
There’s congratulations to 20 “All Present at Northcliffe Girls School and a fire engulfs the storeroom at Rossington Street
There’s no Rock n Roll or Jiving at Denaby Baths
and we have pictures of Chrysanthemum Winners, Co operative windows, Angling awards, Boxing, Northcliffe WMC
and the Operatic Society amongst others
December
December 1957 heralded the close of another year as a Conisbrough R.A.F. man came home from troubled Cyprus
and a Merchant Navy Officer Cadet proposes by Transatlantic telephone
There is a Road Safety campaign at the schools by posters and the “Talking Beacon”
There is celebration of Christmas with a party for the over 80’s, A Christmas Fayre at Epworth Hall
and events at the Salvation Army, the Athletics Club and Rowena school